[null and void]

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/earn

Earned:
2 a: to come to be duly worthy of or entitled or suited to [she earned a promotion] b: to make worthy of or obtain for [the suggestion earned him a promotion]

Since one is not entitled to salvation, one becomes worthy of, or earns, it by the action of accepting the offer.

[presently no screen name]

the suggestion earned him a promotion

The person worked for the promotion. I doubt they just sat there and was given a promotion. That's why it's under the word 'earned'

Since one is not entitled to salvation, one becomes worthy of, or earns, it by the action of accepting the offer.

We are NOT entitled to salvation, and we are NOT worthy of it - it is a free gift - it's called grace. Unmerited favor. That's how much God loves us. If I gave you a million bucks and all you had to do is go to the bank and claim it - did you earn it in anyway? That's one reason it's called The Good News, almost too good to be true good news.